If you caught the Oprah show today, you may have been surprised to see that Oprah and her staff- some 378 men and women- participated in Oprah’s Vegan Challenge. For 1 week, they left behind their usual fare of dairy, eggs, butter, meat, fish, and all other animal products and even the HARPO cafeteria started serving some vegan options. I thought I was dreaming when I saw the preview for this show because I did not expect this, but I was so proud of Oprah and her staff for bringing attention to this topic. I took some notes to share with you because I know many of you were not able to watch the episode.
Journalist and food expert Michael Pollan, vegan author Kathy Freston, and journalist Lisa Ling were invited onto the show to talk about veganism and being conscious of where our food comes from. Oprah was clear in stating that everyone needs to make the choice for themselves and the show was neither pro-vegetarian nor pro-vegan, but pro-education, much like her show with Pollan several months ago.
Oprah claims that many of us are ‘disconnected’ from the animals, meat industry, and the food we eat each day. As reported by the USDA, 10 billion animals are killed in the US each year for consumption. With such a staggering number, it is important to question how our food gets to our plates.
Michael Pollan thought the Vegan Challenge was fun because it makes people conscious of what they eat. I had to agree with this because when I became a vegan, for the first time in my life, I started reading the ingredients that were in my food. I was shocked to find out that I didn’t know what half of the ingredients were and I still find myself looking up mystery ingredients on a weekly basis.
Oprah’s staff member, Jill, emptied out every item in her fridge that had an animal product in it. By the time Jill went through her fridge, it was virtually empty. She was shocked how much food contains animal products.
Pollan admits to eating meat 1-2 times per week, but states that he doesn’t eat industrial or feed-lot meat and he supports small-scale, local farmers that do not feed the animals grain (i.e. corn or corn by products). Michael’s goal is to REFORM the meat industry, not eliminate it. While I would love to see a meat-free society some day, I do realize that Michael’s approach is probably the most realistic.
As a rare look inside a meat farm, Lisa Ling travelled to Cargill Meat Solutions– one of the largest meat companies in the US. This part of the episode was the most emotional for me to watch. They described the process that each cow goes through from the feed lot to the slaughtering to the processing. Each cow at Cargill spends 200 days at the feed lot where they are fed corn and corn by products. This is to fatten up the cattle where they gain about 3 pounds per day. Each day, 4,500 cattle are sent to the slaughterhouse where they will be guided through maze-like pathways for 2 hours to calm down prior to slaughter. I could almost feel the chill in the air as I watched this somber part of the clip.
It was extremely hard for me to watch the animals looking into the camera, just moments before death. Kathy Freston described how I was feeling when she said, ‘watching the animals in the slaughterhouse didn’t sit right with my soul.’ I could not have described my own emotions any better. It is one thing to read something from a book, but to actually see it happening is very real.
Not surprisingly, the episode did not show the 4 inch bolt that is shot through every cow’s head during slaughter. They did, however, show the pain on Lisa Ling’s face as she watched the slaughtering. The carcasses then go through the process of skin removal, sawing, and chopping/grinding the parts. This part was very graphic, but I was happy that they did show this behind the scenes look because I think it is important to connect ourselves to what we eat. The most shocking thing about this slaughterhouse was that it was supposed to be one of the ‘better ones’ and that many, unfortunately are much, much worse than was portrayed.
The show ended with vegan author, Kathy Freston who served as the vegan guide for Oprah and her staff members during the vegan challenge. Kathy took staff member Jill to Whole Foods to show her examples of vegan foods she could cook for her family. I expected Kathy to show her beans, legumes, lentils, vegetables, fruits, nuts, or seeds, but sadly, Kathy showed her a plethora of packaged fake meats, fake mayonnaise, fake cheese, and fake ice cream sandwiches. I strongly believe that a vegan diet does not need to rely on processed, imitation products, so I was disappointed to see this focus. When I first went vegan, I tried all the fake meat products because that is what I thought I was supposed to eat, but my real satisfaction with veganism only came when I experimented with non-processed foods like grains, beans, lentils, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. That is when it all clicked for me and I knew that I could do it long term.
Oprah and her staff member’s reactions to The Vegan Challenge were very interesting to watch. One of Oprah’s staff members, Joe, said he felt so amazing that he was going to convert to a vegan diet. Oprah, said it was definitely ‘doable’ to eat a vegan diet, but she would be ‘veganish’ from now on, meaning that she will think more about the food she eats and try to eat more animal-free foods. Her partner, Stedman, wants to continue the vegan challenge because he enjoyed it so much. Other staff members admitted that they wouldn’t be converting any time soon, but they did admit that it made them think about what they eat each day. Out of 379 participants, they lost a total of 444 pounds and gained a total of 84 pounds. Some participants said they gained weight because they relied on ‘vegan junk food’ too much. I thought it was great that they showed both sides of the story because it is just as easy to eat unhealthy on a vegan diet as it is a non-vegan diet! I don’t like the portrayal that veganism is some kind of weight-loss diet though.
To end the show, Oprah and staff members at HARPO announced that they will be holding a Meatless Monday each week in honour of this challenge. I think this is a great idea and it shows that no matter what kind of diet you do chose eat, you can always make changes, big or small, to impact the system.
If you are interested, there are a bunch of video clips from today’s show on the Oprah website.
Did you see Oprah’s Vegan Challenge show? What did you think? Do you ever go meat/animal-product free or participate in Meatless Monday?
i wish i could have seen the show today! i’m so interested in vegan & vegetarian diets, especially since i know so many people who are vegetarian and think it’s healthy to eat a grilled cheese sandwich multiple times a day.
i’m not surprised they talked about so many fake foods. that is the common perception of vegan cooking. to me, the fake meat just grosses me out. thanks for posting your thoughts on the show!
I so wish I could have seen it too! They don’t even air Oprah over here (holland) :(. Which usually doesn’t bother me that much but DAMN, this is such great news! Much more so than Clinton going ‘vegan’ (with the exception for fish…). I have a hard time with promoting veganism as a health diet being vegan myself. I love how Oprah gets the message across: we are so detached not only from animals, but nature in general and ever ourselves!
I am secretly hoping she sticks with it after the week is up ;)
Same! I live in England so I couldn’t see it either!! I’m hoping it’s on YouTube though so I can watch it on there :)
I’m not surprised they talked so much about ‘fake’ foods though, as I guess these are much more relatable to most people than beans and lentils, great as they are! They certainly helped me a lot when I switched to a vegan diet, and now and again I still have them.
But it’s great how much more normal veganism is becoming to people! Cerainly the reactions to my veganism I’ve been getting more recently are much more understanding than just a year or so ago! :D
I had to look away from the TV when they showed the slaughterhouse. Wow that was intense! While some parts of the show were iffy, I’m glad they are encouraging people to think about what they’re eating. Knowledge is power!
I totally agree! I understand that the whole world isn’t going to go vegetarian/vegan but if people just had more of an awareness some big changes could be made!
Very neat, and thanks for the quick review!
I am vegetarian but not vegan, and I try to get my dairy products from only organic and then even grass fed sources when I can, but it’s really a lot more difficult than it should be. I 100% agree that people are too detached from their food choices, even including things such as the amount of work it takes to get a banana from Ecuador (because they most definitely are not grown in North America!) to our houses, etc. The more we detach from our food, the less we are taking care of our bodies. People even as recent as 100 years ago would balk at the things we’re willing to eat no-question, these days!
I am so glad this was on. So many of my friends and family do not understand my switch to veganism and hassle me so much. I hope this helps them see that it’s not just a fad. Not a trend. All I want is to be healthy. This site has inspired me to do so much. Awesome awesome.
I saw the episode as well. First of all, I love love love Michael Pollan and what he has done for the way we look at food in the US. I can honestly say, that without his books, I would probably not make the choices I do today.
That said, I really did not care for the woman Oprah interviewed. She depicted veganism as a way to lose weight. Morever, as you stated, she showed fake meat products and substitutes as if they were a staple of a vegan diet.
Overall, I was really excited to hear that Oprah was doing a show on veganism. Because of the blogs I read, I don’t find omitting dairy and meat as a bizarre thing. But her audience is different. I think she was able to reach a lot of people today who probably reconsidered what they were having for dinner. :)
I saw the episode as well. First of all, I love love love Michael Pollan and what he has done for the way we look at food in the US. I can honestly say, that without his books, I would probably not make the choices I do today.
That said, I really did not care for the woman Oprah interviewed. She depicted veganism as a way to lose weight. Moreover, as you stated, she showed fake meat products and substitutes as if they were a staple of a vegan diet.
Overall, I was really excited to hear that Oprah was doing a show on veganism. Because of the blogs I read, I don’t find omitting dairy and meat as a bizarre thing. But her audience is different. I think she was able to reach a lot of people today who probably reconsidered what they were having for dinner. :)
Great recap. I watched and was very impressed and how they showed both sides of the picture by having both Michael Pollan and Kathy Freston. I do wish they focused more on the delicious vegan meals you can make instead of just trying to recreate meaty junk food, but you have to start somewhere! I was proud that lots of her staff were so happy with the results of the challenge.
I’ll be completely honest… I’m really quite frustrated by this show!
1. It was made out that a vegan diet is some crazy radical diet where you need to sacrifice so much and spend loads of money on all the processed vegan foods that really isn’t necessary.
2. I’m really disappointed by what Michael Pollan was saying. He says that the meat industry is terrible for the environment, but that he still eats it a couple times a week from “sustainable” farmers. He then goes on to say that it really doesn’t matter how much meat you eat. Too bad 99% of meat eaters can’t afford the free-range chicken from neighbor Joe!!
3. Oprah stated at the beginning of the show that we were too disconnected from the food on our plate, but then later in the show said that the animals were being killed “humanely”. There is NO way to kill an animal humanely. It’s taking their life for your own gain. Plain and simple. You can’t get much more disconnect than that.
The lady said that the animals don’t feel pain as they bleed out for approx. 2 minutes before they bleed out and die. Unfortunately, the reality from the bolting is that it is not always effective, leaving the animal still “with it” as its throat is slit open.
You have to ask yourself *why* they wouldn’t show the bolting process if it was so humane? They showed the cows being skinned and sliced in half…what could be so graphic about a cow being bolted?
I just feel that this was a bad portrayal of the truth behind those factory walls…
4. Lastly: WHO CARES IF LISA LING STILL EATS MEAT AFTER SEEING THE MEAT FACTORY!! Oprah kept saying this as it were some justification and reason that we should all continue eating meat. Bravo, Lisa.. you have no soul! Let’s all follow in your footsteps and make this world a better place.
Urgh. Sorry.. I’ve never been a radical vegan. I tell the truth to others when they ask for it, but otherwise keep it to myself. I absolutely despise when other vegans go out of their way to make omnivores feel guilty about their food choices. That being said, I also despise when things are portrayed poorly, giving off the wrong message.
I TOTALLY agree with you Katie!! The biggest positive is that the vegan diet was brought to mainstream awareness but it wasn’t a great description of the whole vegan lifestyle. If anything, it’s a start…
“not a radical vegan”
you make me laugh at how misguided you are. Lets clear the “truth” shall we?
for one thing, these animals wouldn’t even have life if it wasnt for the food indusry.
these animals have happy carefree lives until they are taken to be used for food.
majority of the time.. no they do not feel anything. is it any crueler for us to do that than for an animal in the wild to rip another animal to shreds while it is still alive? i think no…
Humans are scummy sometimes in their treatment of animals, and each other, and that is regrettable, but that is not every case.
another thing, lets use horse slaughter as an example.
overbreeding of horses has caused too many to be here that aren’t wanted.
with the closing of the slaughterhouses, what happens to these horses….?
the person(alot in this world economy) that cannot afford to care for or even the euthnasia of the animal, abandons the horse to starve to death, or succumb to illness, if they are sold at an auction… they are still bought by killer buyers to be shipped out of the country to slaughter houses. except nowww they travel for days with no food or water in the heat or freezing cold.
What do you think is going to happen to these other animals?
Humans are omnivores… take a look at our teeth and digestive system.
Plants are living too… whose to say they arent hurt?
Have a heart, eat a rock.
And let me tell you.
I have been an animal-lover since I was born. Nothing could hold my attention more as a generally hyper child. Call me crazy but I feel connected to animals, we just get along…
I can walk up to animals that supposedly don’t like “strangers” “other people” or whatever.
I eat meat. I am pro (govt regulated) horse slaughter.
Because I can see the alternative for these animals and it really isn’t pretty in comparison.
No life if it wasn’t for the meat industry!?
I’m not vegan 100% for animal rights. Its mostly cause I feel better when not eating animal. However to say they would have no life is ridiculous.
So that makes it right? An animal is bred to live in torturous conditions so we can have a burger? Free range is better but as mentioned most people cannot afford it.
Get real w your view that it’s right because they are bred to be eaten. They were bred to be tortured, mishandled, and poorly processed.
“They were bred to be tortured, mishandled, and poorly processed.”
I have to argue with the logic of this statement. If that was the case, then animals would not be eaten after being slaughtered. Their carcasses would just be dumped wherever to rot, and slaughterhouses would actually be paid to to torture animals until they are killed. Clearly, that’s not how slaughterhouses work.
Yes, some animals are raised to be eaten. But in no way does that make it ethical for slaughterhouses to mistreat the animals before they are killed and divided into consumer-manageable parts. Every animal, from your pet cat or dog, to horses that are slaughtered because of overpopulation, deserve to be ethically (humanely?) treated. I was horrified over the way pigs were tortured in a slaughterhouse in NC (source: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,317947,00.html); and truly feel that this is what Nietzsche meant when he stated that “the abyss looks back at you.” There is something to be said for people who abuse animals, whether it be on the clock or off, and it’s nothing complimentary.
I take issue with such a statement because I believe in the promotion of veganism. I don’t like the idea that the hamburger I like may be made of hundreds of different cows (Source: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/01/31/health/main326858.shtml); and I refuse to eat both veal and foie gras because I object to the way these foods come to be. But to help veganism be viewed as mainstream and as an accepted life choice, those who argue for it MUST, MUST make logical and impassioned arguments for their cause, and try to avoid hyperbolic statements such as, “They were bred to be tortured, mishandled, and poorly processed.”
Keep up the good fight, and continue educating people about veganism!
“None”
I bet if the animals could talk and the question was posed to them, “Would you have chosen to be born had you known what your life would be?” I would bet all the money in the world the answer would be “NO!” The majority of them do not live carefree lives and certainly not happy. As far as your statement that they do not feel anything…how do you know that? How many slaughterhouses have you been too? The bolt shot into their head is to stun…Do you think the slaughterhouse workers stop to check vitals before they start chopping!? You are right they would not be here if it was not for us, but they are here for no other reason then our greed, greed of money and palate satisfaction!
Your comment about us being omnivores is correct, but you contradict yourself when you say look at our teeth and guts. First, we do not have the canines required to rip raw meat easily from a bone and last time I saw someone eating a steak they cook it, cut it with a knife, and chewed with their back teeth. Look at an obligate carnivore’s teeth they are all sharp and the jaw is longer. Speaking of longer, obligate carnivore’s colon is very short to allow for quick pass through of meat. We (humans) have a VERY long colon which means the harder to digest meat sits in there and rots before it is finally expelled. Omnivore means we are capable of eating meat and veggies, not that we have to eat meat! If you eat a meat only diet you would become ill because you CANNOT get all the vitamins, minerals and nutrients you need with only meat, if you eat a plant only diet you would most likely thrive because you can get virtual all you need from a vegan diet! FYI: Wild animals kill what they need, we kill BILLIONS of animals for food and that does not even included animals killed for other reasons: experiments, fur, sport, abuse,ETC!!!! How much of that is wasted? How many are killed only to be wasted because it’s contaminated or there is just too much to be used?
Oh! and to the “plants..who say they aren’t hurt”, which is the most annoying and ignorant statement uttered when people argue against a vegan lifestyle, who says they don’t hurt is…well modern science! To feel pain you must have a spinal cord connected to a brain which sends messages to pain receptors to let you know you should feel pain! When/If my veggies start screaming in pain and terror and/or bleed when I cut them then I will then have to rethink my stand on this subject. People are always saying how vegans are “crazy”, “radical” , “stupid”…funny thing is I am constantly asked to justify my lifestyle! On the other hand, I have never EVER gone up to someone and said “Ewww…what is that? A chicken leg? Do you think it screamed? I could never eat that! That is just not natural, is it “real”food? I would die if I had to give up veggies to eat that! Where do you get you vitamin C, A, D? Aren’t you afraid that chicken may have been diseased and covered in sores and that they may have pumped it full of hormones and antibiotics? Don’t you think it is sad that chicken is dipped in water and electrocuted to stun it (hopefully) before they pass its throat along spinning razors that may or may not kill it instantly before it is dunked in boiling water to get its feathers off? You are a selective animal lover, which is your choice, but because I have chosen to love all animals and advocate for humane treatment for all animals I am called radical! Instead of advocating for slaughter of animals that are over-bred why not advocate for decrease breeding! Animals by the billions die every year and most secondary to one reason…human greed!
Katie – I completely agree with you! I was so angry I took to my blog after this came out.
It was just not a very accurate or well thought out portrayal of a vegan diet. With the exception of the Veganist author, none of the other guests were vegan!
Was kind of a failure of an episode in my mind.
Katie,
You say “I absolutely despise when other vegans go out of their way to make omnivores feel guilty about their food choices” which I applaud. However, in your previous paragraph, you describe someone who has seen a slaughterhouse and still chooses to eat meat as having “no soul”.
Just as you despise when veganism is being protrayed poorly, I despise when omnivores are described as soul-less.
Liz, you’re absolutely right. 95% of my loved ones are omnivores and they sure as hell have souls. I don’t think otherwise, nor would I say something like that to their face so I don’t know why I would post something like that online.
Thanks for calling me on it :)
TOTALLY AGREE WITH THIS!!!! I’ve been vegan for over 7 years now…and whenever there is some sort of attention in the media or popular culture, that would be “legitimate” (i.e. too many people love Oprah to not listen to her, she maintains a powerful position) for the mainstream audience, it is NEVER and accurate portrayal. So annoying, I don’t care if it gives people some idea about veganism, NOT everyone can afford whole foods and it doesn’t have to be an expensive diet. Whole foods and all of those pricey “fake” foods (not really healthy most times) will do nothing but spread the elitest, “white culture” message that most people perceive to be veganism. Also, being vegan is NOT and NEVER has been about consuming all of these fake meats and disgusting things. The point is to stray away from the over-processed wasteful and harmful consumption patterns of the mainstream and have an open mind, one that questions and challenges. And veganism isn’t for everyone, what’s more important is spreading a message of being a conscious consumer, aware of implications etc. Michael Pollan= disappointing.
Anyway, cool that Oprah is having a meatless Monday and this topic was given attention on her show, but it would be nice if, just for once, someone would go on there and say something that’s true to what veganism has always striven to be…
I didnt see the episode, but Im so glad Oprah did it. I mean, of all the people that could, shes the one that would get the most attention.
Im not a fan of meat in general, but Im not opposed to eating it. That said, I think the meat we eat today is nothing close to even what my parents and grandparents used to eat. My mom grew up on a farm. They raised chickens and cows. I dont think they killed the cows for meat, I think they were just dairy cows, but they milked them themselves, and took care of them. Same thing with the chickens, they had good lives. Thats the way it should be. If you’re going to eat them, they shouldnt have to suffer their whole lives first. I dont understand why people cant see that. If this happened to dogs, the world would freak out, but because its cows and pigs its ok? That makes no sense.
Good recap of the show. I’ll be honest I am on the other side of the issue, I am a farmer and my family raises cattle. I respect whatever food choices a person makes, it is a personal decision, and no one deserves to be critized. One thing I would encourage is to talk to a farmer or rancher about your food as well. We are more than willing to share our story and answer questions about your food. That is ultimate who we are raising it for so you deserve to know about it, but I caution you to remember that it was also my family that was out in a blizzard today breaking waters, helping cows calf, putting extra bedding and feed out for them. If you on Twitter #agchat is a good hashtag to learn about ag and talk with a farmer. I am @CrystalCattle. Good show today, I am glad that she has more people asking about food.
thank you. this is proof of how well cared for most of these animals are.:)
Thank you so much for this post because I missed this Oprah! I have wanted to for about 5 years, but I feel as though I cannot be a healthy vegan (yet!) because, as a college student: 1. I do not feel as though I have control over what I can eat. Relying on dining hall foods or what my family buys limits options. and 2. I do not feel as though I can afford to buy the types of food that can provide me with a wholesome, vegan diet If had one or the other of these, I feel as though I could do it! Do you have any suggestions?
Thank you for this recap. I have been hearing about it all day but couldn’t watch it. Very frustrated to hear that it concentrated on fake products. I think that can steer people away from veganism because they are left comparing this weird, foreign-to-them product with what they are familiar with. If the show had focused on a whole foods diet, people might be more willing and interested. I am glad they showed the suffering animals (though I know if I had seen it I would’ve been in tears); I really hope it pushes people to give up meat.
I am a vegetarian, leaning towards vegan food most of the time as I tend to favor grains, fruits, veggies, legumes, over other food.
I need to watch these clips. After learning about slaughter and meat processing in my food science course, I went vegan for a week, followed by vegetarian for a few years. I’ve slacked since marrying my husband and we will eat local, farm raised and pasture grazed cow maybe once a week? Dairy and gluten seem to be “triggers” for me lately and I’m certain those have no part in my personal diet, so i’m working towards figuring out what my body needs! Its tough but I feel like knowledge is power and i’m glad oprah addressed veganism and encouraged people to make some changes and educate themselves.
Thanks for the recap, this is the first i’m reading of the show! So now i’m going to do a little more digging =) xoxo
Great review Ang!! I couldn’t agree with you more. I was going to give a quick overview of my thoughts on my post tonight as well..but maybe I’ll just refer people to yours. ;)
I really wanted to watch this show but I had to work. Thank you for your lovely write up! Hopefully I can catch or a repeat or a video of it online.
thank you Angela! I don’t have cable, so I needed this update sorely! It really is amazing to me how many people eat mindlessly and don’t think of the animals. But that’s how we’re programmed and socialized to think! I stopped eating meat at 11 years old after seeing footage similar to what was aired today, and I haven’t looked back since!
I am, however, extremely happy to support meat farmers that raise and slaughter their animals in the most humane and natural way possible. I purchase and cook meats from these farmers for my boyfriend often, and I’m so excited to see more and more of these farms popping up.
I don’t think that everyone is made to be veg/vegan, but I do want everyone to consider meatless options and buy from humane farmers!!
i’m really bummed that i missed the episode. it sounds like an amazing one and i totally agree that it’s important for us to be educated on all aspects of our food and make an informed decision on what’s right for us
the first time i truly went vegetarian, i relied on all of the packaged processed stuff and didn’t last. i was so burnt out. the second time, when i experimented with *real* food, it lasted much longer. while i’m not a vegetarian anymore, i think it is important to vote with our grocery purchases and choose organic and humane food as much as possible
thanks for the re-cap, friend :) hope all is well <3
I have that episode DVR’d so I am looking forward to watching it. I just think bringing awareness to how animals are treated and in turn what we are actually putting into our bodies is great. The masses definitely need a very broad and general overview or it does seem radical.
That is all SO interesting. I really loved reading your review. I’m so sad that I missed the show, but I would love to watch the whole thing.
I’ve thought about becoming vegetarian, and maybe after a look into the slaughterhouse I will consider it more seriously.
Thank you for the awesome summary, ang! Unforch, I was napping and missed it:( Oprah really outdid herself, it makes me happy beyond words to see a large, televised movement towards Veganism on a show like Oprah’s! I applaud her, truly. I can’t wait to see where this takes Veganism!:)
I was jealous of all the free goods too! Oprah’s staff have the hookup!